Important Dates OPTIONS GUIDANCE COHORT JANUARY 2015 OPTIONS PROCESS. Dear Parents

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1 OPTIONS GUIDANCE COHORT JANUARY 2015 OPTIONS PROCESS Important Dates Tuesday 13/Wednesday 14 January 2015 Options talk to Year 9 on Timetable Enrichment Days, start of the options process. Thursday 15 January 2015 Year 9 Reports and option booklets sent home. Wednesday 21 January pm 8.15 pm Facing the Future Options Evening, opportunity to talk to teachers and students for all subjects. Wednesday 4 February 2015 individual option interviews parents and students. Thursday 5 February 2015 Deadline for Options returns to Form Tutor. Dear Parents Year 9 students are now at the stage where they need to choose an appropriate course for Years 10 and 11. Between us, we must help them make this important choice. You will probably have heard about some of the Government changes in the media. Traditionally students have left school often concentrating on achieving at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*- C including English and Maths. This collection of qualifications has then opened the door to further and higher education opportunities. The most recent initiative that the Government is promoting is for students to study a wider breadth of subjects. Instead of measuring schools on the number of students who achieve five GCSEs, schools will now be measured on the progress and attainment in eight subjects. This does not mean a student will only study eight subjects, but the best eight grades will be used to measure the progress for each individual. 1

2 In the past, students have left school achieving success in many GCSEs, the drive now is still to achieve success in many GCSEs, but for that success to be the grades that are the absolute best each person can achieve. The impact of this is to ensure that we focus the curriculum time carefully, thirteen grades at B and C are not as impressive as nine grades at A*. The new national measures for Year 9 will recognise success in either English Language or English Literature, Maths, then 3 more subjects out of Science (for many this will count as 2 of the 3), History, Geography, Computing, or a Modern Foreign Language (Spanish, German, French or Mandarin). It is a national expectation that students will study at least three of this particular mix of subjects. How does this affect students in Year 9? The Government s intention in promoting this is to encourage and facilitate what they describe as a more rounded educational experience. At the moment we do not know the impact that this initiative might have, however it is important that you bear this in mind when making your selections. In four years time, if you are considering making university applications, your GCSE choices may influence the application; you will be competing for places at University and in employment against other students right across the country; we want you to be in a position to secure the success that is right for you. An important message is that you choose a broad range of subjects within the guidance we have given. The subjects that facilitate entry to some Universities are English, Maths, Science, a Modern Foreign Language and either History or Geography. All students will be expected to take GCSEs in: English Language English Literature Mathematics Science (most will take two GCSEs in Science, Science and Additional Science) Religious Education, containing significant elements of citizenship. In addition, all students will take part in Physical Education. It should be noted that the majority of students will have 6 GCSEs within their core curriculum. In addition to the compulsory courses mentioned above, the majority of students will choose 4 further subjects. Some students will be advised to choose 3 subjects only, we will talk with each individual to ensure we plan for the most appropriate pathway to secure success for you. The vast majority of subjects chosen will require a terminal exam covering the majority of the syllabus in the summer term of Year The majority of the courses offered will lead to GCSE qualifications at either level 1 or level 2. In order to understand the courses available now and in the future, it may be best to consider the level they represent as follows: Entry Level below GCSE Level 1 = equivalent of GCSE D to G grades Level 2 = equivalent to GCSE A* to C grades Level 3 = equivalent to A Level 2

3 The choice of Modern Foreign Languages at The Castle School includes Spanish, German, French and Mandarin. Students must have studied the language they opt for in years 8 & 9 in order to secure GCSE success. Details of the option subjects are printed in the Curriculum Guide. This Guide gives you as much information as possible to help you and your son or daughter to make your decision. When you have made your decision you will need to return the form attached to the form tutor. One form is to be returned to your child s form tutor by Thursday 5 February 2014, the other may be kept by you for reference. At this stage we have not built the option blocks. Our reasoning behind this is to maximise the potential to give everyone as many of their choices as possible, clearly not everyone is going to get everything they ask for. We will work hard to ensure that as many as possible get three out of four choices, ideally many will get four out of four. Once I have the returns I will construct option blocks, which will allow the greatest number of students to study their preferred subjects. Unfortunately, this may mean that there will be a small number of students whose particular combination of subjects cannot be accommodated. In addition, if a subject does not attract a minimum number of students, usually 10, we may not be able to put this on. If either of these situations arise, the students will be informed and will have to make new choices. You will see from the options schedule that time is spent in school talking to the students about the choices available. There is also an information evening Facing the Future - on Wednesday 21 January when you will be able to talk to students and staff, and consult with colleges and our Careers Adviser to obtain more information on possible career routes post 16. The evening will begin at 6pm and end around 8.15pm; this is a key evening for students and families to attend. Individual appointments for you and your son or daughter to discuss their option choices will be held on Wednesday 4 February Please can you ensure that you sign up for a meeting before you leave school on 21 January, the boards will be in the main reception area. There are basic, common sense rules that you need to follow when making your choices. These are obvious, but nevertheless worth stating. It is most unwise to choose a particular subject because a friend is doing so, or because of liking or disliking a particular teacher. There is no certainty at all that friends will be allocated to the same teaching group, nor that they will be with the teacher of their choice. Choices should be made according to these principles: - ability in the subject; - interest in, and liking for, the subject itself; - relevance of the subject to the student s future career (if known); - balance of the student s chosen course overall; and - preferred learning style. In addition there are some subjects on offer that a student may not have studied in the lower school. It is partly for this reason that we include in the booklet a description of all courses on offer. We hope you will read the details to enable you and your child to make up your minds and make the opportunity to talk to your teachers, on the evenings as well as in lessons. It is essential for the students to be proactive in finding out about the courses they are considering. Where a student does not have any definite career ideas as yet, it is wise to aim for a balanced course which would ensure good all- round education as well as flexibility for future career choices. 3

4 Finally, I would like to stress the need to make decisions very carefully. If, during the summer term, you have second thoughts about your choice of subjects, please contact me as soon as possible. The later this happens, the more difficult it will be to make any changes. No changes will be made after the first week of the autumn term and only before then if there is a significant reason for changing, which is supported by a parental request. Each subject chosen carries a commitment to a two- year course, whether or not the student eventually takes an examination in that subject. If you do not hear anything, you can assume that no news is good news and that we have been able to accommodate the mixture of subjects. All the best, please make good use of the support and guidance that is available to you. Yours sincerely Fran Gormley Deputy Headteacher 4

5 Nos of GCSEs YEAR 9 OPTIONS OFFER - CURRICULUM THE CASTLE SCHOOL COMPULSORY CURRICULUM CA/CW Exams 2017 NATIONAL EXPECTATION You need to select 1 of these subjects. There is an opportunity in the Open Choices to select more. CA/CW Exam 2017 Open Choice you need to select 3 subjects from the list below. 1 English Language GCSE 2x50% GCSE Computing 2x30% 1x40% GCSE Art & Design Fine Art OR Photography 1x60% 1x40% OR Textile Design. 2 English Literature GCSE 1x40% GCSE French 2x30% 2x20% GCSE Business Studies 1x60% 1x40% 1x60% 3 Mathematics GCSE 3x33.3% GCSE German 2x30% 2x20% GCSE Catering 1x20% 1x40% 1x40% 4 & Double Award Science 2x25% 6x25% GCSE Spanish 2x30% 2x20% GCSE Child Development 1x40% 1x40% 5 GCSEs (2)* 1x20% 6 Religious Education GCSE 2x50% GCSE Mandarin 2x30% 2x20% GCSE Computing 2x30% 1x40% 7 Further Additional Science top sets only, core curriculum time. 3x25% 6x25% 3 x 25% Yr 10 CA/CW Exam 2017 GCSE Geography 1x25% 1x50% GCSE Dance 4x20% 1x20% 1x25% GCSE History 1x25% 3x25% GCSE Drama 2x30% 1x40% GCSE Design Technology: Graphic Products 1x60% 1x40% *Double Award Science many students will enter one GCSE in Science at the end of Year 10, then use Year 11 time to complete the second GCSE called Additional Science. GCSE Design Technology: Resistant Materials 1x60% 1x40% GCSE French 2x30% 2x20% GCSE Geography 1x25% 1x50% 1x25% GCSE German 2x30% 2x20% GCSE History 1x25% 3x25% GCSE ICT 1x60% 1x40% GCSE Mandarin 2x30% 2x20% GCSE Music OR 2x30% 1X40% BTEC Music 3x25% 1X25% GCSE PE 1x60% 1x40% GCSE Sociology 2x50% GCSE Spanish 2x30% 2x20% 5

6 OPTION FORM to be handed to the Form Tutor by Thursday 5 February Name of student:.. Tutor Group:... Please fill in below your choice of subjects, in order of preference. Choice 1 National Expectation Subject. (Yellow Block) If you are selecting an ICT qualification please clearly specify your choice. Either Open Choice 2 GCSE Computing OR GCSE Information Communication Technology, unless you are considering both, in which case specify your order of preference. Open Choice 3 Open Choice 4 Has your son or daughter any ideas about possible careers? If so, please give us details: Reserve Choice(s) Any other comment: I understand that each subject chosen entails a commitment to follow the full two- year course, and to do homework as a necessary part of the programme. Changes to option choices after the form has been handed in will only be possible if there is room in the new group. Changes will not be possible after the first week of the autumn term and then only in exceptional circumstances and with parental request. I also understand that if it is in the interest of my son/daughter, the school may suggest a different course than that chosen by me, and consult me in the event of any change. Signed:. (Parent/Carer) Please be reassured, no news is good news! You are unlikely to hear any more for several months; however we will be working hard to allocate as many students as possible to their choices. The vast majority should get three of the four choices, and many, but not all will be successful in their f ourth choice. However, please also bear in mind that not everyone will get everything. 6

7 OPTION FORM (COPY) - please complete and keep for your own reference. Name of student:.. Tutor Group:... Please fill in below your choice of subjects, in order of preference. Choice 1 National Expectation Subject. (Yellow Block) If you are selecting an ICT qualification please clearly specify your choice. Either Open Choice 2 GCSE Computing OR GCSE Information Communication Technology, unless you are considering both, in which case specify your order of preference. Open Choice 3 Open Choice 4 Has your son or daughter any ideas about possible careers? If so, please give us details: Reserve Choice(s) Any other comment: I understand that each subject chosen entails a commitment to follow the full two- year course, and to do homework as a necessary part of the programme. Changes to option choices after the form has been handed in will only be possible if there is room in the new group. Changes will not be possible after the first week of the autumn term and then only in exceptional circumstances and with parental request. I also understand that if it is in the interest of my son/daughter, the school may suggest a different course than that chosen by me, and consult me in the event of any change. Signed:. (Parent/Carer) Please be reassured, no news is good news! You are unlikely to hear any more for several months; however we will be working hard to allocate as many students as possible to their choices. The vast majority should get three of the four choices, and many, but not all will be successful in their f ourth choice. However, please also bear in mind that not everyone will get everything. 7